
Anne used to meet men in bars, but now meets them over the Internet. "If we click and there's some chemistry and I like him, then we have sex," she says. But Anne recognizes that her behavior is dangerous. "My sex addiction is a monster that has taken over me. This addiction has ruined my life. It ruined a great marriage and it estranged me from my children." Anne says she is ready for a change. "I want the second half of my life to be better than the first half of my life," she says.

"There is absolutely no question that that has had a profound effect on who you are," says Dr. Phil. "You don't own that. That's not your fault. That's not your responsibility, not one bit. What you do about that now is your responsibility because no one can make that choice but you," he says. He asks her how she feels when she's having sex with these men.
"It's like a powerful drug," says Anne. "I feel in control, powerful, beautiful, sexy ... like I'm in charge of the situation."
"And then when you're home later, how do you feel then?" he asks her.
"Totally different," says Anne. "I feel very dirty and angry at myself — not my partner — I do take responsibility for my behavior. I feel angry at myself. I feel like I'm used goods and I'm very ashamed."

Anne says she's angry because it caused her to lose so much in her life. "It's just been a nightmare," she says.
"You've never developed relationship skills. And the relationship that you develop that's more important than any other is your relationship with yourself. You don't know Anne. You've never met her for real. You don't recognize her true worth and value as one of God's creatures. You just don't get that or you wouldn't sell her down the river," he says.
Dr. Phil tells her that he's worried for her safety as well. Anne promises she will do everything she can to get to know herself, and Dr. Phil arranges for counseling in her town.